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Image Quality Blu-Ray vs DVD

5K views 37 replies 16 participants last post by  MatrixDweller 
#1 ·
I just bought the new Sony BDP-S550 Blu-Ray player & have it connected to my Sony XBR4 52''
via an HDMI cable. Here is my question. I had a older (much cheaper) Sony combo DVD/VCR player connected via component cables, my wife, son & even myself don't see a huge change in quality in the video. Am I missing something in the TV's setup to take advantage of the Blu-Ray's quality?
I have the setup on the Blu-Ray setup to Auto. Or is it that this Sony is that good?
I Thought after buying a Blu-Ray player & a Blu-Ray disc that I would be blown away!


Any Clues?


Thanks!!
 
#2 ·
In the BluRay players menu under video settings there should be an output resolution setting. Make sure that it is set to output 1080p. Also are you going directly to the display from the S550 Blu-Ray player via HDMI or are you passing that through a receiver?
 
#4 ·
Do you have the other settings they way I mentioned?
 
#6 ·
It really depends on the movie, My projector is only 720p but with some movies yes there is a huge difference between the SD DVD and the BluRay version The colors really pop and the contrast is better. Considering that most new release movies are around $23 and BluRay are about $28-33 it is not always a good deal. However the uncompressed audio is a big improvement on BluRay if you have the system to hear it.
 
#11 ·
How far away are you from your TV? Our eyes have a limit to what resolution we can see, and most are not even close to being able to tell the difference between 720 and 1080 at 'normal' distances with a 52" screen.

The BBC did some substantial research on resolutions and visual acuity a while back, and made a pretty neat snd simple to read graph that tells you what size screen you should need for a given distance and resolution.

According to this you should be about 5 feet from your 52" to be within THX spec. A little further for the SMTP spec.

The BD vs DVD comparison is moot on a properly set up display, the difference is so huge it's beyond doupt. On less ideal setups the difference is much smaller.

http://www.carltonbale.com/2006/11/1080p-does-matter/
 
#12 ·
In a normal living room with normal viewing distances (12+ feet), you may not see a dramatic difference on a 52" set. Like others have said, colors and blacks will be deeper and you will see better details, but it will not be a "blow you away" difference imo.

Now on a good 1080p front projector, you would be blown away (I know I am). It's a whole new level in every way. Especially on good transfers.
 
#13 ·
The XA2 does a great job of upconversion however I disagree that that upconversion looks as good as BluRay. It is impossible to make a SD DVD look like HD no matter how hard you try. The only difference is how many lines of video there is SD DVD has only 480 and you cant make something out of nothing. As we all know HD DVD and BluRay DVDs quality varies from movie to movie but so does SD DVDs The 5th Element is a great example of this, the Superbit SD DVD version of it is still to this day one of the best transfers of the move available and looks terrible on BluRay.
Another example, I have the entire series of Lethal weapon on either BluRay or HD DVD and also have the first and third on SD DVD. The BluRay and HD DVD transfers are way better than the SD upconverted versions (I have done A/B comparisons).
I agree with the post above mine that BluRay blown up to an image larger than 60" would be far more noticeable than on a 42" display.
 
#14 ·
When I finally sell my house and move, I will get a new display. It looks like a 57" diagonal 1080 LCD will give full 1920x1080 resolution goodness at a 7.5 ft viewing distance.

I used this viewing distance calculator.

Otherwise I have to sit way too close to my current 34" direct view CRT to really tell the difference between over the air ATSC broadcasts 720P (ABC, FOX, ESPN) versus 1080i (NBC, CBS, PBS).

I really appreciate 1080p downstairs sitting at the computer table with a 24" Acer LCD monitor (at a 2 ft viewing distance).
 
#15 ·
Thanks to All!

I didn't have the The Sony's HDMI input setup correctly.
Now when the Blu-Ray turns on it says 1080P/24

I have three Blu-Ray movies
Get Smart
Journey to the Center of the Earth
And of all things Wall-E

I'm still not blow away, maybe it's the movies I own?
 
#16 ·
None of those movies have what I call excellent image quality on BluRay. Give one of these a look the Waterhorse, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium, August Rush or The Spiderwick Chronicles. All of these have very good video quality in my opinion.
 
#18 ·
You know, I forgot. One of the best BluRay experiences is the "Planet earth" series. It is stunning to say the least.
 
#23 ·
At that distance, you may not see much difference and be blown away. I sit around 16 feet from my 42" because of the size of my living room, and it looks great but really isn't noticeably different than up converted DVDs nor the 1080i signal from my Dish. I think to really see the difference you have to get really close. Anytime that I wanted to see how good the quality, I get 2' from the screen and take a look. Then it is simply amazing to see the 1080p Blu-Ray.
 
#20 ·
Listen, I have seen some excellent up converting DVD`s, but when set up properly, (TV calibrated, etc.) nothing is better than a Blu-Ray picture. Don`t want to start a debate, but with the proper codecs in place, calibration, that is it. Blu-Ray looks and sounds terrific. SD DVD`s can not match it!!
 
#25 ·
I sit 6' from my 1080p 42", and while most HD DVDs I've watched don't look too terribly different than a good upconverted DVD, Transformers and Planet Earth definitely stood out as a notch above in picture quality. I'll be switching to a 52" while staying at 6', but I think it will still come down to specific discs and how well each one was handled.

Some examples have already been mentioned - Clockwork Orange is another. The HD DVD has a lot of artifacts and jaggies that the SD version doesn't. The SD version with a good upconverter is the one to choose in that case.
 
#26 ·
Watched Open Range last night upcoverted through a ps3 and the the pq rivaled a few blu discs. The thing I've noticed most when comparing the two formats is low light scenes, the dark shots really show the difference. Another is the details, little things get lost with compression.

At 14ft viewing distance and 52" display it will be difficult to see a big difference, now move forward 7ft and you'll see how good or bad the the pq can be.

The reason I like hidef is the uncompressed audio. When I watch dvd's now it sounds like I'm listening through cotton balls, a lot of the discrete sounds are not there.
 
#27 ·
I watch 106" from 10.5 ft. As you found out, to see a definite difference between BD and DVD, it is imperative to have a huge screen. Higher resolutions enable you to go big and still enjoy a great picture. Lower resolutions won't.

I'm Talking about 36 degree angle view and more here ...
 
#28 ·
Just watched 'The Dark Knight' last night on BD. I just wondered about something. In one sequence in the film, the Joker is in an interrogation room, and you get a fairly good look at his shirt. I would like to have some DVD-users tell me how many different patterns his shirt has. This sort of thing show the intricacies of the Joker's madness, and such details, for me anyway, really show craftmanship from the creators, and depth of character.
 
#29 ·
Sorry to say that but for the "average" consumer with a 50 inches screen, listening 10 feet from the TV, HD format is not a BIG advantage over the standard DVD with upscaler (like the oppo or toshiba).

HD player is 300$, HD media are 20$ or more.
DTD player are 50$, STD media are 5$...

Does it makes sense to upgrade ? to pay 5 times more ?

Yes if you have a 100" screen. If not ???
 
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